Tips from a Nutritionist That Chiropractic Patients Should Know

When someone thinks of chiropractic care, they often think of spinal adjustments. However, there is so much more involved than that. Chiropractic care is about providing total health for a patient. That is why working with a nutritionist is such a vital part of care. Nutrition plays a major role in helping a patient recover and remain healthy during and after treatment. Here are some tips that will help you get the most out of chiropractic care.

Mind the Calories

You may know that you need to limit calories to reduce weight, but it is not just about obesity. If you are being treated for back problems or other injuries, extra weight can put a strain on those injured body parts that will make it hard to recover. A nutritionist can provide nutritional counseling to help you with your diet, but there are some general guidelines. For one, go with lean cuts of meat, and eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Portion control is really important as well to make sure that you aren’t eating too much at each sitting. Watching calories will help you lose weight and heal faster.

Calcium

Calcium helps to strengthen your bones. The best foods to consume to increase your calcium are yogurt, milk, cheese, and greens. Along with strengthening your bones, calcium can help with issues with your nerves, which is a big part of chiropractic care.

Protein

One of the more common injury types that a chiropractor sees is muscle injuries. Protein is known for healing muscle tissue, which will help with your recovery after treatment. Not only that, but it helps muscles recover after weight training. If you are looking at getting back your strength, the protein provides a great boost. If you are not consuming enough protein, you will heal slower and you won’t get the best results. If you are having trouble getting enough of it, nutritional counseling can help you make the right dietary choices to maximize protein. While protein usually comes in meat, there are vegetarian options as well. These include tofu, nuts, eggs, and soybeans.

Hydration

While most might not consider it a part of a “diet,” the fact is that water is crucial for health and recovery. Make sure that you are getting enough water every day to help transport nutrients around your body. It also helps flush toxins out of the body. A general guideline a nutritionist would give is to drink eight glasses every day. Make sure to spread them out, however.

Supplements

Usually, it is best to consume your nutrients through the foods and drinks, but sometimes it can be difficult to do that. Supplements are a good way to fill in those nutritional gaps. Nutritional counseling can help you figure out what you are missing and what supplements will help you.

Another easy way to make sure you are getting what you need is through technology. There are many smartphone apps that help you track what you are eating. They will provide you with your nutrient intake as well, so you can track what deficits you might have on a certain day.

Working with a Nutritionist

At SPNCC in San Antonio, we understand how important the diet is to recovery and healing. That is why we can provide a nutritionist to help you figure out what your diet needs are and how to get the nutrients you need. Give us a call today to find out more.